It’s time for another #rtwsoon interview, this time with the lovely Heather of Heather’s Harmony. And guess what? She’s leaving for her big adventure this Sunday!

If our summer travel plans to Europe didn’t fall through, we’d probably be crossing paths with Heather somewhere along the way. Instead we’ll have to settle for following her adventures through her blog instead and there should be some really good ones ahead. Have fun, Heather! And you know where to look if you need some ideas of how to spend your day in Iceland.

Who are you?

My name is Heather & I am from the desert lands of the Western US but I’ve got a gypsy heart that has taken over my life. My passion for change and travel has led me to the northern lights of Saint Petersburg, swimming with sea turtles in Hawaii, pruning olive trees in Palestine, kissing under the Eiffel tower, pondering in the midst of Stonehenge, getting sea-sick in Jamaica and getting lost almost everywhere I go.

Want to know what I love and find most unique about myself though? My intuition.

While being prepared & having a general direction in life is a must for anyone with drive & passion, the ability to admit that the universe has something even better in mind for you is downright gutsy & brave. Several years ago I was tied to a weak and weary existence, lacking in passion and gumption. It didn’t take long before I knew I needed to change and re-discover what cultivated happiness in my life… travel. Since then I’ve always had goals and stepping stones to achieve personal harmony but in large I’ve let the universe be my compass and leave myself open to the opportunities that I encounter.

Where are you going on your RTW?

That is a fantastic question! As of right now I will be leaving to explore Europe for three months and in October I’ll be moving to South Korea to teach English for a year. Beyond that your guess is probably better than mine! One thing is for sure, it’s going to be a grand adventure full of surprise!

Along with being an intuitive traveler I am also very budget conscious so while I purse a life of travel I will also be sure to find work along the way to sustain myself & my student loans.

After the very steep climb to Masada where it is believed Jewish extremists committed a mass suicide rather than be captured by the Romans in 73 AD

When are you leaving?

I leave the afternoon of July 15th, 2012 with a day investigate Iceland before backpacking in Europe and then moving to South Korea in the late fall.

Why did you decide to go on this trip?

At some point in my life I realized I wasn’t happy and through a lot of self-reflection and discovery the single thing I knew that had made me happy was traveling, so I’m running with it!

I’ve spent the past 4 years in college, working full-time and living a simple life with as many trips both abroad and around the corner as I could possibly manage. It just wasn’t enough, I knew I needed to build a life that fit into travel rather than fitting travel into my life. It’s certainly a unique life path and even though at the time I didn’t know a single person with the same ambitions I dedicated myself to pursuing those dreams. There isn’t anything quite like living what once seemed like a pipe dream.

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles & Fish in Kauai, HI- One of my favorite experiences while traveling!

What will you be doing to pass the time before your travels?

I am writing to you from my work desk awaiting my final day since my department was laid off. I will enjoy a month of Utah’s beautiful summer season, attend a travel blogging convention in the Colorado Rockies, spend a lot of time outdoors camping & hiking and take advantage of every possible minute with my friends and family before I leave without knowing if/when I will return.

If you could give just one piece of advice to a fellow #rtwsoon traveler, what would it be?

I know you said only one piece of advice but I have two equally important nuggets of knowledge.
Firstly, Let’s be friends! Find others who have the same ambitions as you, surround yourself with happy, inspiring and passionate people even if it’s over facebook, twitter or blogging. Your similar drive, experiences and curiosities will form relationships & benefits that will change your life!

Secondly, don’t give up. That sounds cliché but it’s the most common advice others have given me. It’s dedication and perseverance that set successful people apart from those who choose to give up and therefore choose to fail. “Where there is a will there is a way.” So my advice is to find what you’re passionate about, commit and dedicate yourself to it and never give up!

2 Comments

Awesome to hear you’re off on a backpacking adventure to Europe (and then South Korea which is still super high on my to-do list!). I currently live as an expat in Europe, it’s a lot of fun 😀 It’s so crazy how every country can be so DIFFERENT yet so close together.Tom recently posted..Mundial Music Festival In Tilburg: A Photo Adventure

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You can tell I love travel!! My Bali boarding pass as a bookmark 👌✈️. If you love travel read this book! @gadventures what a great inspirational story and company. #travel #look #book #inspo #inspirational